by Adam Blade
Gradually the shape of a rocky islet began to poke through the misty dawn. “There it is,” he told Elenna. “I think that’s where I saw Sepron, just before the flood.”
He looked over his shoulder, peering into the heavy fog. There was no sign of the sea serpent. Tom felt an icy shiver run down his spine as he thought of the great head rising out of the water.
Then Elenna let out a cry. “Tom! The boat’s leaking!”
Tom started. Water was slowly filling the bottom of the boat. It was seeping in around the edges of the repair and began to pool near their feet.
“The tar must have been weakened by the water when we put out the fire,” Elenna said.
“Give me your oar,” Tom said. “I’ll row while you bail. We’ll try to find a place where we can land on the rocks.”
Tom began to row again while Elenna used his shield to bail out the water.
The rocky islet gradually grew closer. But this islet had no beach — only rocky crags rising straight out of the sea.
The water swirled around the rocks as Tom angled the boat around them, struggling to keep it on a steady course.
“Careful, Tom!” Elenna shouted. “The waves could smash this boat to pieces on those rocks!”
Elenna was right. The boat lurched and rocked dangerously. They had to get away from the island. Tom started rowing back out to sea, when he spotted an iron hoop driven into a huge crag.
“Hey!” he called to Elenna. “Look at that!”
Tom saw that a thick, gold chain was fixed to it, leading down into the water. It was draped with seaweed and covered with barnacles, but it still gave off a mysterious golden glow.
Elenna caught her breath. “Do you think it’s enchanted?”
“Only one way to find out!” he said.
Tom carefully navigated the boat back toward the island. He put down the oars and reached for the chain. The golden light felt alive, somehow, as if the chain were buzzing with energy.
“Think the serpent’s got a leash?” Tom asked, smiling warily. He gave the chain a tug. It was surprisingly light for its size.
“No!” cried Elenna. “What if you wake Sepron?”
“It doesn’t feel attached to anything below,” Tom said as he began to pull the chain up.
As he said this, the chain came to the surface. It was broken! The last link was mangled and destroyed. All of a sudden, the churning waves died down and the water was calm again.
“Oh!” cried Elenna.
But Tom wasn’t surprised. “Looks like Sepron is on the loose.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
SEPRON AT LAST!
TOM SCANNED THE HORIZON FOR SIGNS OF Sepron, but saw only tranquil seas. By now the sun must have risen over the hills. But the sea mist had grown thicker still — the shore was blotted out. And everything was eerily quiet.
Elenna broke the silence. “I think the leak is getting worse. I can’t bail fast enough.”
“But there’s nowhere to land the boat!” Tom said. “What can we do?”
“Quick!” Elenna shouted, ripping the bottom of her tunic. “Give me some cloth.”
Tom ripped off his sleeve and handed it to Elenna.
“Hold the boat steady, Tom,” she said. “I’ve got to plug the hole from underneath.” With that, she jumped overboard into the frigid sea and disappeared under the surface. Tom tried to bail the water, but it was coming in too quickly.
I hope this works, thought Tom as he watched the water rise over his ankles. He felt panic seize him as water begin to fill the bottom of the hull. Just when he thought they were doomed, the water slowed, and then stopped almost entirely. He heard Elenna gasp as she came to the surface.
“You did it,” Tom exclaimed as he helped pull Elenna back into the boat.
“It will help,” she said, “but it won’t completely stop the flow. And it won’t hold for long.” Tom continued to bail out the water with his shield as Elenna tried to warm up. She was shivering and her lips were blue with cold.
“Here,” Tom said, handing her his coat.
As the boat bobbed gently on the sea, the mist began to thicken. It wrapped around them like a cold, wet blanket. Soon, they couldn’t see farther than a few feet away. An eerie silence descended upon them.
“We’d better start rowing again,” Tom said.
“But we don’t know which way to go,” Elenna said, shivering. She was right. Sepron could be anywhere — he hadn’t shown up on the map since the day before.
Elenna leaned over the edge of the boat, trying to peer through the fog. Just then the boat rocked wildly, almost sending her overboard.
She jumped back to her seat. “What was that?” she asked, her voice shaking with fear.
Tom summoned all his courage and looked down into the water.
“There’s something there!” he exclaimed. “Something huge.”
Sure enough, a vast dark shadow was gliding underneath the boat. Then he froze at the sound of loud splashing. Something had broken through the surface of the water on the other side. Huge drops of seawater rained down on him and Elenna.
Tom knew what he was going to see. Bracing himself, he grabbed for his sword and shield, and glanced over his shoulder. Elenna screamed.
Rearing out of the sea was the huge head of the sea monster. At last Tom was face-to-face with Sepron!
The serpent’s eyes flashed with an icy glare of anger. Shimmering scales, the color of the sea, covered his head and neck. Barnacles and seaweed clung to him, and the water foamed around him where he broke the surface.
“Look at that,” Tom said, pointing. “The lock is the same as Ferno the Fire Dragon’s.”
The beast’s collar was locked with a huge padlock, and the broken golden chain trailed from it. Roaring, Sepron lashed his head to and fro in agitation. Then he plunged back under the waves.
The surface of the sea rolled as he vanished, and the boat rocked dangerously. Tom peered down into the sea. He narrowed his eyes as an idea grew inside him. Sepron was down there, somewhere. But the serpent couldn’t hide forever. Tom knew what he had to do. He had to follow him.
They rowed around the rocks and then out into the open water, following in his wake. Elenna put all her effort into rowing. Tom could feel the cold fist of fear in the pit of his stomach. He could see that Elenna was scared, too.
“I’m going in.” he said. “If I can hold my breath for long enough, I should be able to unlock the collar with the key Aduro gave me and break the spell.” He pulled it out from under his shirt and held it up.
Elenna gave him an anxious look, but didn’t try to stop him. “Be careful,” she said quietly.
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“There must be something I can do to help,” Elenna said.
“Here,” Tom replied, handing Elenna his sword. “In case something happens.”
Tom slipped off his boots and tucked the key away safely, before climbing over the side of the boat. Time almost stood still as he took a huge gulp of air. Then he dove into the icy water.
CHAPTER EIGHT
SEPRON’S KINGDOM
TOM STRUCK OUT ENERGETICALLY, DIVING deeper into the sea. He was swimming in an eerie world, where everything seemed to move more slowly. As he swam down, the water became darker and colder. Silver bubbles of air streamed away from his mouth, rising to the surface.
As he plunged deeper, the only sound was the rushing in his ears. Fear gripped him as he faced the dark depths. He would never be able to hold his breath long enough. He turned around and swam back to the surface, gasping for air.
He forced himself to be calm. He couldn’t turn back now. This was his quest. No one else could help the fishermen and free the Kingdom of Avantia from the threat of Sepron. Tom had to succeed. He plunged back down, diving deeper still with strong, sure strokes.
Tom saw a flash of shimmering scales in the murky waters below—he knew he must be close. He continued to dive down until he spotted a reef of coral near the
seabed. Lying among the coral was Sepron.
Tom froze and almost took a huge gulp of water. Sepron’s head and the collar with the padlock were closest to him. The sea serpent’s body stretched away into the darkness.
As Tom swam closer, the huge head swung around. The Beast’s jaws gaped open, revealing vicious rows of teeth. Sepron surged up through the water, heading straight for Tom. Tom turned back. Arms and legs pumping, he swam up to the surface. The last of his air bubbled away. His lungs were hurting as he fought not to breathe in any water.
He glanced back, engulfed by the fear that Sepron’s mighty jaws would clamp down on his legs. The sea monster followed closely behind Tom, snapping his jaws open and shut. It was as if the serpent was taunting him.
A moment later, Tom’s head and shoulders broke the surface. He treaded water, desperately gulping in air. Looking around for the boat, he couldn’t see anything through the thick fog.
Tom kept treading water, calling out for his friend. Where was Elenna? Then, he heard a faint cry.
“Tom! Are you all right?” Elenna called out.
Tom looked all around, and then he saw it, a glint of silver not too far away. He swam toward the sparkling light. It was Elenna, holding Tom’s sword.
“Yes,” Tom panted. He felt exhausted. But he knew he had to go back. He dragged his limbs through the water over to Elenna and the boat. Could he really dive down there again? “I have to!” he muttered to himself as he swam.
“Did you free Sepron?” Elenna asked, pulling him into the boat. Tom shook his head and tried to ignore the bitter stab of disappointment as he admitted that he’d failed.
“Found him, but —” Tom was still gasping for air. “Couldn’t get close enough. Got to try again.”
“Don’t take in too much air,” Elenna advised. “And try to move slowly so you don’t waste it.”
He rested until he had caught his breath. Then he took a last gulp of air and plunged beneath the surface.
This time he found the reef quickly. Sepron was lying there again, his coils wrapped loosely around a spire of coral.
Cautiously, Tom swam closer, keeping behind a rock wall until he could approach Sepron from behind. He slid through the water, desperate not to alert the serpent of his presence. At last he could grasp the glowing collar in one hand.
Right away, Sepron knew Tom was there. He lashed his head back and forth, trying to shake him off. Tom clung on and worked his way around until he was under Sepron’s jutting jaws. He grabbed the padlock that lay against the serpent’s thick, rough scales.
As quickly as he could, Tom took Wizard Aduro’s key from his pocket. He tried to thrust it into the hole in the padlock. But the hole was encrusted with barnacles. Numb with horror, Tom realized the key was useless until he could clear the keyhole.
Just then, Sepron’s head heaved upward. Tom lost his grip on the padlock and rolled over helplessly in the surging water. One of the serpent’s coils knocked Tom from behind, and he felt the air go out of him. He had to surface or he would drown!
CHAPTER NINE
THE LAST CHANCE
SEPRON’S NECK CURVED AROUND. HIS HUNGRY jaws reached for Tom. With failing strength, Tom kicked out, driving himself back to the surface. His chest was bursting for more air.
As he surfaced, he spotted the glint of sunlight from the sword Elenna held. Shaking wet hair out of his eyes, he gulped lungfuls of air.
“Tom!” Elenna cried. “Is everything all right?”
“No. The keyhole is blocked by barnacles.” Tom’s voice was hoarse. He swam up to the boat and grabbed the side. “There’s no way to get the collar off.”
Elenna’s eyes widened in horror. “What are we going to do?” Then, before Tom could reply, she exclaimed, “I know!” She fished in her pocket until she brought out Calum’s knife.
Tom brightened at the sight of the intricate knife. Its pearl handle seemed to glow.
“I’ll give it a try,” he said.
Elenna handed him the blade. Then Tom plunged down into the sea again. A massive shadow fell over him, and he realized that Sepron was waiting for him.
The serpent’s neck arched over Tom. Sepron’s sharp teeth closed inches from Tom’s foot as he swam deeper. Tom knew he couldn’t outswim the Beast. He had to unfasten the collar!
His heart thumping, Tom knew he had to act now. His air wouldn’t last long, and if he tried to resurface, Sepron would snap him up. This is my last chance! he thought.
He turned in the water and drove himself toward Sepron’s body. As the huge jaws gaped open, Tom swam underneath and grabbed the padlock. Sepron’s scaly head lashed to and fro. Tom jabbed the knife into the keyhole, scraping at the barnacles. It was hard work, but at last he had cleared the hole.
By now he needed air again. His arms and legs were heavy with exhaustion and his wet clothes were dragging him down.
Summoning all his strength, he shoved the key into the lock and turned it. This has to work! he told himself.
The lock sprang open. Instantly, Sepron stopped thrashing about. He tossed his head, and the collar came off, floating down to the sea floor. For so long now, Sepron had been under the evil spell of Malvel. But not anymore. With fierce determination, he tore the golden chain apart with his teeth.
Tom watched in wonder as the collar sank and the golden glow faded into the depths of the sea.
He couldn’t believe it. Sepron was free at last!
CHAPTER TEN
THE NEXT QUEST
TOM MADE HIS WAY TOWARD THE SURFACE. HIS head swam with exhaustion and he could hardly make his arms and legs move.
Then he felt something nudge him from below. Terror gripped him as he looked down into Sepron’s face. But the anger that was there before had gone. The serpent’s eyes seemed kind. He gave Tom another nudge with his rough muzzle, pushing him up toward the light.
As Tom broke the surface, Sepron lifted him out of the water. Tom clung to the Beast’s muzzle as he stretched his neck out toward the boat.
“Tom!” Elenna cried out. “The collar’s gone. You did it!”
Tom looked up. “Yes. He’s free now.”
As the sea serpent lowered his head to set Tom down gently in the boat, something fell from his jaws. Tom picked it up.
“It’s a tooth,” he said, gazing at the jagged piece of ivory. Sepron must have broken it, he realized, when he tore at the collar.
Tom reached up a hand and touched the Beast’s shimmering scales. “Thank you,” he said. He knew that without Sepron’s help, he would have drowned.
The Beast dipped his head in farewell. Then he dove back under the surface. Tom caught a glimpse of him gliding away toward the open sea. It was beautiful to see how gracefully Sepron moved through the waves — truly at home.
“Sepron’s free now,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say that there won’t be any more floods.”
He and Elenna stared at each other. Then Elenna let out a whoop of triumph. She and Tom flung their arms around each other and hugged in excitement and relief.
Tom started at the sound of a polite cough just behind him. He and Elenna leaped apart. Tom turned to see Aduro. He seemed to be standing on the waves close to the boat. Tom could see the blue ocean through his robes and realized this was another one of the wizard’s illusions. After all they had been through, it was good to see a friendly face.
“Well done!” the wizard said. “I can see I was right when I chose you, Tom. You’ve saved Avantia from Sepron.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Elenna,” said Tom.
Aduro smiled. “You have both shown great courage,” he said. “All of Avantia will be grateful to you. And now,” he added, “is that Sepron’s tooth that I see there?”
Tom held out the jagged piece. “I think it broke when he tore his chain off.”
“Place it in the front of your shield,” the wizard instructed him.
Tom did as Aduro told him. Another empty slot had opened up beside t
he scale of Ferno the Fire Dragon. Sea-green light spilled out of it. It glowed brightly as Tom fitted Sepron’s tooth into the hole. Then the sides of the hole closed around the tooth as if the shield had been waiting for it all along.
“Now as long as you hold your shield, you will never drown,” Aduro said, “and not even the fiercest torrent will be able to harm you.”
Tom gazed at the shield in wonder. He had already tested it against fire. Now it would protect him from water as well. “Thank you!” he said.
“Don’t thank me,” said Aduro, his eyes twinkling. “You won the tooth yourself. With each Beast that you help, your powers will grow.”
Tom glanced at Elenna, whose eyes were wide with wonder.
“What must we do now?” she asked.
“First, go back to the village,” replied the wizard. “I’ll see that Elenna’s repair holds until you reach the shore. You have a boat to return.”
Tom nodded. “Yes, and we have to collect Storm and Silver.”
“Then you must ride to the mountains in the North,” Aduro went on. “Cypher the Giant is threatening the kingdom.”
“What’s happening?” Elenna asked.
“The Dark Wizard Malvel has put a spell on the giant,” the wizard replied. “In his anger, Cypher is sending avalanches down on the trading route at the foot of the mountains. Without these important routes, the whole Kingdom will suffer.”
“And it’s our job to stop him,” Tom said. He could imagine rocks and earth raining down, and the terror of the townspeople.
“That’s right,” said Aduro. “Freeing Cypher is your next quest.”
“I’ll do my best,” Tom promised.
“The map will help guide you,” the wizard told him.
“Thank you. I —” Tom began. But as he was speaking, Aduro’s form began to fade. The ocean shone more brightly through his robes. Then he was gone.
Tom gazed toward the shore. Amazingly, despite all they had been through, little time had passed. Hopefully, the villagers were still sleeping and no one but Calum would guess what he had done.